Traffic-signal apparatus



June 8 1926. 1,588,239

V H. G. LEACH ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' 17w 44 Jaw INVENTOR Hanry 6: Z eac/z Joseph 6. L e ac/a ATTORNEY June 8 1926. H. G. LEACH ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed June '7, 1924 4 sheets-Sheet 2 Z.

INVENTOR Henry 6'. 1 each c/asep/z S- L e 670% ATTORNEY June 8,1926. 1,588,239 H, G. LEACH ET AL TRAFFI C S IGNAL APPARATUS Fil d June '7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E: 15 w/ M 4 25 II I INVENTOR f/e my G. Leach Joseph 5- L eOc/z ATTORNEY June 8 1926. 1,588,239

H. G. LEACH ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Henry G. Leach Joseph 6.4 each A'rrdRNEY member.

Patented June a, 1926. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. LEACH AND JOSEPH S. LEACH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

mnArrIc-sIeNAL APPARATUS.

Application filed June 7,

The invention relatesto signal apparatus for use in connection with the regulation of vehicular traffic, particularly at street crossing intersections; and more especially to a device of this character suitable for either automatic or manual control. In a prior application for U. S. Letters Patent,

-- Serial No. 687 ,142, filed by Joseph S. Leach, a device of the automatic type has been disclosed, but it is not possible therein, after having set the device for particular time intervals, to change the particular length of period of display of a predetermined signal except by substituting a difierent control It ,is the object of the present invention. to provide a device of this character which, while having automatic control with predetermined periods of display of the par ticular signals, will yet afford a manualcontrol, and from a remote point if desired. A particular signal may thereby be displayed for any desired length of time, being entirely under the control of the operator,

irrespective of the automatic control mechanism which, for the time being, is rendered inoperative. A further object of the inven-, tion consists in providing simple and readily operated means for "converting the apparatus from the automatic to the manually controlled state, and vice versa, and for operating a plurality of display apparatus either jointly or as individual units.

The invention has for its object also, novel timing mechanism for the automatic control of the apparatus. A still further object of signal apparatus as embodied in a tower.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the operating mechanism; and Fig. 3, is a side elevation thereof, the mechanism also being shown as set for the manual control.

Figs. 1 and 5 are respectively a fragmentary section, taken on the line 44, Fig. 2; and a plan thereof, illustrating the releasing 1924. Serial No. 715,451.

means for the tension control apparatus of {)he actuating spring for the display mem-' Fig. 6 is a plan view, and Fig. 7 is a development of the timing member employed in the automatic control ofthe display apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits employed.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus is illustrated as mounted upon a suitable post or standard 10, the operating mecha nism being enclosed in a suitable housing 11 and the actual signal portion 12 being rotatably mounted within said housing, as hereinafter more fully set forth. The signal portion or display member 12, is for example, of octagonal formation, being proi'ided with glass or like faces upon which the respective traffic legends are printed, as will be readily understood.

, For example, two diametrically opposite faces are marked Go and the pair of diametrically opposite faces at right angles thereto may be marked Stop. A quarter turn, therefore, of the display member will serve to bring one or the other into view. The intermediate faces are intended to give a preliminary or cautionary signal as to indicate a change in traffic movement, and to this end may, for example, be marked Change. display member may be suitably illuminated, but this feature forms no particular part ofthe invention, which consists essentially in the mechanism for affording intermittent movement to the said display member'and the control thereof.

For this purpose, the latter is mounted to be rotatable about a fixed tubular member 15 contained with the support 10, said display member comprising a table 16 carrying the plates which bear the various aforesa1d legends and the said plates being held thereto in any well-known or special man ner. The table is provided with a downwardly directed tubular extension or sleeve 17 fitting over the upper end of the tube 15 and resting, thru an intermediate ball hearing 18, with its lowermost end upon the upper surface of an annular table member 19. Beneath this table is a bevel gear 20 which is secured to a sleeve'21, also mounted about the tube 15 and within the sleeve 17, said sleeve having secured thereto one end f 11 spring 22 which is m t in 1 1 A If desired, the interior of theannular recess or pocket 23 provided in the upper surface of table 16. The other end of the coil spring is secured to the wall of this pocket; and the said pocket is preferably closed at the top by a plate 2%, thus entirely enclosing the spring which, within its pocket23, is given sufficient initial tension to efiect at least one complete rotation of the table. The table l6 is arranged for vertical movement with its connected members, said movement being limited by means of a ring 25 secured to the tubular member 15 above the said top plate 24.

Due to said spring 22, the table 16 Wlll be caused to rotate in a predetermined direction; and a bevel gear 26 is arranged to mesh with the bevel gear 20 to rewind this spring in amount corresponding to the degree unwound by the rotational movement of the table and thus maintain its tension. Power for driving the gear wheel 26 is obtained from any suitable source such as the continuously operating electric motor 27 to which current is supplied from any suitable source (not shown). The rotational movement of the table, under the influence of the spring, is to be so controlled that the various legends will be displayed for predetermined periods of time in accordance with the traflic movements desired. For example,

' in one direction of traffic it may be desired to display the wordGo for a longer period than the word Stop, as in instances where there is greater traffic in one direction than in the cross direction. It is desirable, also to display a warning or cautionary signal previous to the change from Go to Stop and vice versa; and this period is, of course, to be considerably shorter than for the regular traflic periods. The word Change, or designations of similar import, are therefore to be displayed for a brief period only.

To control the respective periods of time for the different displays, the motor 27, thru an intermediate gear train 28, is arranged to drive ashaft 30, which is show as mounted at an angle to the plane of the table, and imparts to said shaft continuous rotational movement. The shaft 30 at its outer end carries a control member, preferably in the form of a dished member 31, for rotation therewith, the rim 32 of this member being provided with openings 33 slotted at various portions. These slots are differently located vertically of the rim and some of the openings differently formed, being designed topass only a particular pin or roller 35 which with a flange or peripheral ridge 36 located with particular reference to a predetermined slot- The slotted or timing member, which is shown of a dished type, is arranged, also,-to be inclined with respect to the table; and the rim thereof in its highest postion is designed to-extend immediately below the surface of the said table in the the rim of the dished member is arranged substantially atright angles to the plane of rotation of the pins or rollers 35. Moreover,

said rim is adapted to contact successively with a roller to prevent thereby rotational movement of said table and until the further rotation of the dished member has brought a corresponding opening 33 thereof in registry with its particular coacting roller. When this occurs, the roller will slide thru the opening and out of contact with the dished member, as the latter is'in-. clined to the plane of the table sufficiently to allow of the roller clearing the entire rim of the dished member as soon as it has passed thru an opening. The table will, therefore, rotate a definite angular amount, that is to say until a succeeding pin arrives to contact with the upper rim portion; and it will then remain stationary again until a further registry has been effected between a roller and a succeeding opening of the rim.

In the illustration, Fig. 2, the one roller 35 is in position to effect a change from the position, for example Stop; and as soon as this roller has passed thru the correspond- 7 ing slot, the table will rotate sufliciently to bring the next face, with the Change designation, of the octagonal display member into position, the roller corresponding to thisv position having 1n the meantime made con-- tact with the rim. Owing to the different characteristics of the various rollers, there is no danger of a succeeding roller passing thru a rim slot just cleared, the rim serving to hold'the display member at rest until a I succeeding and suitable opening thereof registers with said roller. When the period of warning designation has elapsed, the dished member will have been rotated sufficiently to cause the said opening to have reached a position to register with .its corresponding table holding roller and again release the table for the change to the Go position. The same mode of operation will then be repeated, but the period in which this designation is displayed will be longer than the It will readily be a'p-' which is best accomplished by substituting for the dished member a different one correctly designed for the particular timing desired.

In order to damp the rotational movement of the table, it is desirable to providev suitable means which will slow down the effective movement of the spring, for example as a vaned member 37 which may begeared to the sleeve 17 of the table thru gearing 38, including a spur gear secured to the said sleeve and a pinion meshing therewith and which is secured to the shaft 39 of the vaned -of the automatic control which, for the time being, is rendered inoperative and the apparatus is subject solely twmanual control, and from a remote point if desired. In carrying out same, means are provided first to raise the movably mountedtable 16 and its attached mechanism to effect disengagement between'the slotted timing member 31 and its rollers 35. The same is shown as being accomplished by means of a cam 40, mounted in brackets 41, which bears against a bar 12 secured across the lower ends of rods 43,

which latter extend downwardly from they annular table member 19. and form a part thereof. The said rods are guided in the base 44 of-housing 11; and by turning a crank or handle 46 at the end of the cam shaft 47 carrying the cam 40, the table 16 with the annular table member 19 and connected mechanism is lifted, thru the action of the cam on the cross bar 42," from the normal position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and in which the rollers 1 35 are raised beyond the upper edge of the slottedtiming member.

In this position; however, the table 16 would spin (around tube 15 under the action of the spring 22; but this 'is prevented by another series, or rather two series, of cir cularly disposed pins or rollers 48 which, thru the vertical displacement, have come in to position to engage with a nose 49 on the end of a rocking lever 50. The two series of pins 48 are circularly disposed in' two par- 7 'allel planes and are staggered on the sleeve 17; and in the one position, the nose 49 engages with the set of pins of one plane and in its other position 1s adapted to engage with the set ofpins arranged in the parallel plane. The change of position of the nose may be easily effected; and, for example, is shown as controlled by a double solenoid 51, with the plunger rod 52 of which the bifurcated lower end 53 of lever 50 engages, so that as the one or the other of the oppositely disposed coils of the said solenoid is energized, the lever is rocked accordingly. A

switch 60, Fig. 8, consisting of two pairs of poles with bridging member, controls the circuit to one or the other of the coils of the aforesaid solenoid, as is well understood. This switch may be located either at the particular apparatus or at some remote point; and thus'the control may be readily effected as desired,'after the cam has elevated the mechanism to effect the temporary discontinuance of the automatic control, whereby a particular display may be maintamed for any desired length of time by the operator. 7

It may be desirable, moreover, to operate in this manner a plurality of signal devices and from any one of the stations. Each of the various stations will then include the switch 60, which is to be provided for each station, a common control main '65 and a feed main 66 for supplying power thereto for operating the motor 27 and forv actuating the solenoid 51 of each station, the connections 7 being as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Occasion may arise, also, as in the case of a fire or other emergency, where it becomes desirable or necessary to have a further and individual control for each station, irrespective of the particular sequence of display at the remaining stations and which i it willbe understood are all in conformity with one and other and normally under the control of an operator located at any one of them. At this end, an emergency switch 67 Q is connected in circuit with the mains 65 and 66 and the control switch 60. This emergency switch may also be located at the apparatus or at any convenient point and is in the nature of double-throw double-pole switch with one of the poles of an end pair blank-and the'other of the particular pair connected with one of the leads of the main 66. The other end pair of poles connects with opposite poles of the solenoid control switch 60 and also with the respective leads. of the'control main 65, while the intermediate set of poles of the emergency switch 67 connect with the ends of the. two coils of the. The common lea.d,68 of the solenoid 51. solenoid coils is connected'to one of the leads of the main 66, the other lead of whidh is connected to both of the remaining poles 1 of the opposite pairs of'poles of the solenoid control switch 60. By this expedient, if the emergency switch be thrown over to the pair of poles containing the blank one, the solenoid control switch 60 of the particular station will be without effect'so far as this station is concerned, the emergency connec tionserving to actuate and maintain only the particular solenoid coil for the Change? position. The remaining stations, however,

maybe still controlled as before thru the switch 60 of the station under emergency control, or from any of the other of the stations hichcontinue to 'functlo'n as before. If the emergency switch 67 be thrown back again, the normal conditions will be restored and the particular station is subject to control from any one of the series of interconnected stations.

It is to be understood, also, that provision is made to accommodate the winding action of motor 27 on the display member actuating spring 22 wl1en the automatic operation of the mechanism is temporarily discontinued for, otherwise, the continued manual control would be likely to tension said spring beyond its limit. In order to obviate this, the current to the motor 27 is arranged to be interrupted as by a switch 69 which is auto-- matically controlled by the tension of the said spring 22. For this purpose, the drive for the spring is thru a-worm 70 and worm wheel 71, Figs. 4 and 5; and the worm shaft 72 is arranged for axial movement in being supported axially at one end by an axially movable spindle 73 mounted in bearings 74 and 75, the latter allowing for a limited axial movement of said spindle. To the spindle 73 is fixedly located one end of a lever 76 whose other end is spring drawn by a spring 77 in manner normally to take up the end thrust of the worm shaft 72. However, when the tension of spring 22 exceeds a predetermined degree, the worm wheel 71 acts as an abutment for the worm 70 which threads itself thereon and moves axially in the direction of the worm, in opposition to the spring 77; and the motion of the spring arm of lever 76 is utilized to open the switch 69 and thereby effect the stopping of the motor 27. So soon as the tension of spring 22 has become sufficiently reduced, under the operation of rotating the display mechanism, spring 77 thru the attached lever 76 will close the motor circuit; at switch 69 and restore the motor operation for maintaining the tension of spring 22 to efi'ect the rotation of the display mechanism.

I claim i i 1. In traflic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member; driving means therefor including a continuously operating motor,

and means permittingthesignal to stop;

timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently; means to .disengage the timing mechanism; and manual means to stop the rotation of said display member at will.

2. Intraffic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member, spring driving means therefor including a continuously operating motor for maintaining the tension thereof, and

means permitting the signal .to stop; timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently; means to disengage thetiming mechanism; and manual means to stopthe rotation of said display member.

means for rotating same, and means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for automatically stopping the rotation of said display member intermittently; manu ally operated mechanism for stopping the rotation of said display member at will; and a cam. to adjust the display member vertically for disengaging its timing mechanism, and means to rotate said cam.

5. In traflic signal apparatus: a rotatable and vertically movable display member; a tensioned coil spring carried thereby to rotate same; a continuously operating driving motor to maintain the tension thereof, and means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for automatically stopping the rotation of said display member intermittently; a table member upon which said display member is mounted; a cam to adjust said table member vertically to disengage said timing mechanism, and means to rotate said cam; two series of pins located in different planes and movable with said display member; and manually controlled means adapted to engage one or the other of 's'aid'sets of pins when the said table has been vertically adjusted to disengage the said timing means.

6. In traffic signal apparatus: a vertically disposed cylindrical member; a display member mounted to rotateabout same, and

having a downwardly extending sleeve; a

tensioned coil spring carried by the dis play member to rotate same; a continu: ously' operating driving motor to-maintain the tension thereof, and means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for automatically stopping the rotation of said display member intermittently; a table member upon which said'sleeve of the display member bears; a cam to adjust'said table member vertically to disengage said timing mechanism, and means to rotate said cam; two series of pinsextending radially outwardly from said sleeve in different planes; and manually controlled means adapted to engage one or the other of said sets of pins when the said table member has been vertically adjusted to its highest position.

7 In trafiic signal apparatus: a rotatable I c display member, driving means therefor, 3, In trafiic signal appara u a rotatable and: means permitting the signal to stop;

timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently; means to disengage the timing mechanism; and

manual means to stop the rotation of said display member at will when the timing mechanism is disengaged and comprismg two sets of radial pins extending from the display member circularly in parallel planes, a rocking lever adapted to engage with one set or the other of said pins according to its. sition, and a solenoid to control the position of the rocking lever.

8. In traflic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member, driving means thereof, and means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for-stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently; means to disengage the timing mechanism; and manual means to stop the rotation of said display member at will when the timing mechanism is disengaged and comprising two sets of radial pins extend-ing from the display member circularly in parallel planes, a rocking lever adapted to engage with one set or the other of said pins according to its position, a solenoid to control the position of the rocking lever, and a switch to control the action of the solenoid.

9. In traflic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member, driving means therefor, and

, means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of i the display member intermittently; means to disengage the timing mechanism; and manual means to stop the rotationof said display member at will when the timing mechanism is disengaged and comprising two sets ofiradial pins extending from the display member circularly in parallel planes, a rocking lever adapted to engage with? one set or ,the other of said pins according to its position, a double-coil solenoid and a circuit driving motor, and

therefor, and a switch to complete the circuit to one or the other of said coils and accordingly control vthe position of the said lever.

10. In traflicsignal apparatus: a rotatable display member, and a tensioned coil spring to rotate same; a continuously operating intermediate mechanism transmitting rotation therefrom to" said spring for maintaining the tension thereof; controlling means for preventing rotatiom of the display member; and means to automatically stop the motor when the spring is tensioned beyond a predetermined degree and to restore same to operating conditions when the tension returns to normal.

12. In trailic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member, driving means therefor, and means permitting the signal to stop; timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently and comprising a dished member having a rim provided with passageways of diiferent characteristics, and rollers carried by the display member likewise possessing different character-- istics corresponding to the passageways of the said rim, a particular passageway being adapted to pass theret-hru only apredetermined roller.

13. In traflic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member and driving means therefor, and means permitting the signal to stop, timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of 'the'display member intermittently and comprising a dished member having a rim with passageways having auxiliary pawageways variously disposed, and rollers carried by the display member, each roller having a flange and the flanges of different rollers being differently located on their respective rollers, a particular passageway being. adapted to pass therethru only a predetermined roller.

14. In traffic signal apparatus: a rotatable display member, driving means therefor, and means permitting the signal to stop, timing mechanism for stopping the rotation of the display member intermittently. and comprising a dished member having a rim located in proximity to the under face of the display member and provided with passageways of different characteristics, rollers projecting-downwardly from the under faceof the display member adapted to engage with the passageways thereof to afiorda limited rotational movement of the display member and to temporarily arrest its rotation manual control means; and means to effect a relative vertical adjustment between said rollers and the said rim to permitof the operation of said manual control means.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3rd day of June, A. D., 1924.

i HZ ENRYI G. LEACH. JOSEPH s. LEACH. 

